In Mark’s gospel, the first conflict for Jesus was over His claimed authority to forgive sin; the first important lesson for us that emerges out of this conflict concerns faith. Mark 2:1-5 reads: “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that He had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the Word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
Here’s the background to this story: Jesus had been ministering throughout Galilee (1:39) and came back to Capernaum, His headquarters (Matthew 9:11), possibly staying at the home of Peter and Andrew. The phrase “A few days later” in common Jewish phraseology meant a considerable interval of time.
Word got out He was back — and the crowds came, packing out the house. The fact they were inside may imply it was winter. So many came they were even backed up outside! Luke 5:17 informs us that among the audience sat Scribes and Pharisees who had come from the villages in Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem (75 miles away!).
Jesus begins preaching the Word, no doubt the good news of God’s Kingdom. As He’s preaching, His message is suddenly interrupted by a strange noise overhead. Everyone looks up and then someone cries out, “Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no… it’s a paralytic?”
Can you imagine the shock of that scene? All of the sudden, there’s a gaping hole in the roof — which you could only see after removing the dirt and straw from your eyes (that is what roofs were made of in that time and place: tree branches covered with mud or clay mixed with chopped straw, with tiles on top). Right in the middle of the sermon this mat is lowered from the ceiling, inch by inch, and comes to rest right in front of Jesus. On the mat is a paralyzed man.
Jesus’ response to this is in verse 5: “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
“When Jesus saw their faith…” I’ll say they had faith — gall might be a better word! First they tear some poor guy’s roof off in the dead of winter — possibly Peter’s and Andrew’s. Then, with the unbridled presumption of a child they interrupt the teaching of the King — assuming Jesus will drop everything and respond to the need of their friend. And guess what? He does!
Far from incensed or enraged, Jesus is impressed! They did what they did because they had faith — faith in what Jesus could do, a confidence in His compassion. They knew Jesus could heal their friend — and there was literally no stopping them!
There is a simple lesson for us here: God honors the step of faith; He honors vulnerability. To say we believe God is not the same as living as we believe. These men in Mark put their faith in Jesus on the line; they were counting on Him, utterly. That’s Biblical faith.